Men in prison manufactured more than 3,600 furniture products for the Victorian community in 2023.
Timber workshops are just one of many Prison Industries workplaces. Prison Industries are places of work that men and women in our care can go to each day and work in a meaningful job, learn a skill and feel part of a team.
There are approximately 115 men employed with the timber industry across four locations: Hopkins Correctional Centre, Melbourne Remand Centre, Beechworth Prison and Dhurringile Prison.
The men make a large range of indoor and outdoor furniture, parts for other products such as wooden frames, dog training obstacles and bespoke items such as cabinetry, bookcases and desks.
They’re responsible for inspecting wood for quality assurance, sanding, cutting, machining and spray painting. The men also assemble the product and package the finished goods ready for dispatch to our customers.
People in our care learn many technical and soft skills on the job, complemented by TAFE training. This provides them with relevant skills and work experience that aim to improve their post release employment prospects and their ability to reintegrate into the community.
About Prison Industries
Prison Industries, part of Corrections Victoria, operates over 65 individual industries across 13 prisons to provide prisoners with a variety of employment, training and learning opportunities, while also aiming to deliver value for the public through goods and services provided to both private customers and internal customers – both prisons and government.
Prison Industries is a growing enterprise delivering both commercial and rehabilitation outcomes.